Written by

Julie Hubbard

THE TENNESSEAN

THE MOOD OF TENNESSEE | Third of Four Parts

Bailey Middle School Principal Sharon Braden is looking forward to her teachers' possibly seeing something extra in their paychecks this fall if their students perform well.

Braden's school, as part of a Metro pilot program, will offer its 29 teachers and staff a shot at $1,500 to $10,000 in bonuses if their students make gains on state test scores. Braden hopes the pilot will help with Bailey's test scores, which lag in reading and math for all student subgroups.

"My hope is that it will have a huge impact on how our students perform, not to say our teachers aren't already doing a good job, but showing growth or not showing growth is good information to discuss with teachers," she said.

The federal government is behind the program with $36 million in funding for 14 school districts across the state. But a new poll shows Tennesseans think otherwise about this kind of incentive pay for teachers.

A Vanderbilt University statewide poll shows 65 percent of Tennesseans do not favor paying teachers whose students do well on tests more than teachers whose students do poorly. Only 35 percent of residents support paying teachers whose students do well on tests more money.

The poll results may be the upshot of parents' not wanting to see schools so focused on standardized testing.

"There could be a couple of things feeding into it, like parents may not think test scores should be the only way kids and teachers should be graded," said Tom Smith, associate professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt's Peabody College. "That fits in with recommendations with a number of people who study measurement and don't want to see a lot of stakes placed on one set of tests."

Others in and around public education in the state share Braden's hopes.

Hillwood High School parent Bob Teague is one of those outside the consensus opinion in the state, according to the poll. He said more financial rewards for teachers could only help a school.

"I'm for everyone to be paid well and do well," Teague said.

Other uses for money?

Hillsboro High School leadership development teacher Susanne Frensley thinks money used for bonuses could be spent in other ways to promote student success.

"I think the money is better spent on what we know increases student achievement like smaller class sizes and teacher training," she said.

The Metro pilot program will last for three school years, and teachers will receive rewards based on how they do on the state's new teacher and principal evaluation system, to start this coming school year.

Half of a teacher's evaluation will be based on student achievement, and the other half will be from class observations.

Maplewood High School Senior Brandon Pointer, whose school will try the program this fall, points to a question of fairness.

"Some students aren't good test takers," he said. "And teachers can only do so much."

The Vanderbilt poll also found 77 percent of residents felt the state should offer another way for teacher certification, such as credit for professional experience.

Many argue that teachers need to be specialized in the courses they teach. Troops to Teachers or other alternate routes such as Teach for America can help fill gaps, said JC Bowman, executive director of the Professional Educators of Tennessee, headquartered in Franklin.

"Alternative certification is the route taken in many low-income communities, and we must make sure we build a pipeline of leaders committed to educational equity and excellence," Bowman said.